Shen Qinghuan stood on the threshold of the thatched cottage, her gaze sweeping over this tiny, dilapidated place.
The roof’s straw had been torn apart by the wind, exposing blackened rafters. Mold stains crept across half the walls in the corners, exuding a dampness that would not dissipate.
This had once been the cage she was trapped in after transmigrating here, the place where the Original Owner had died with resentment. Now that everything had settled, the bloody stench had been washed away by the spirit spring water, leaving only a courtyard filled with deathly silence.
“Baby, we’re leaving.”
She gently stroked her lower abdomen. Her voice was soft yet carried unquestionable resolve. This wretched place was not worth staying in for even another moment.
The child in her womb seemed to understand, moving lightly as if in response.
Shen Qinghuan turned, her gaze falling on Wang Pozi’s mud-brick house.
That old hag had always skimped on her food—she must have hoarded plenty of ill-gotten money.
Now that she was pregnant and about to pull teeth from a tiger’s mouth in the Capital City, money was the foundation of survival. Not a single coin could be wasted.
She stepped forward and pushed open the half-closed door.
A sour, rotten smell rushed out. The room was sparsely furnished: a plank bed, a table missing a leg, and several ragged bundles piled in the corner.
Shen Qinghuan let out a cold laugh. That old hag really knew how to pretend to be poor.
She walked to the bed and lifted the patched mattress.
As expected, one plank had been pried loose, revealing an oilcloth bundle hidden beneath.
She picked it up—it felt heavy. Opening it, she found gleaming silver ingots and several strings of copper coins. All together, there were more than one hundred twenty taels.
“What a greedy old thing.”
She clicked her tongue, swept all the silver and coins into the storage pavilion of her space, then searched the room again. Sure enough, in the stove’s ashes she found a small gold bracelet wrapped in oiled paper—likely Wang Pozi’s secret stash.
She also went to the quarters of the other two servants. Though crude, she still found over a dozen taels of broken silver and some clothing.
After sorting and storing everything, Shen Qinghuan clapped her hands lightly and looked at the now-empty courtyard, a trace of cold light flashing in her eyes.
The bodies of Wang Hongwei and Zhao Er were buried under thick soil—no one would detect anything amiss.
As for Madam Wang, who hid behind the scenes, she would not discover the changes here anytime soon.
That gave Shen Qinghuan the perfect window to make a trip to the Capital City.
The Ministry of Personnel Minister’s Residence—that was the Original Owner’s home, and the place that had buried her mother’s entire life.
The Original Owner’s mother, Liu Wanniang, had been the daughter of a wealthy Jiangnan merchant. She had married into the Shen family with a lavish dowry, believing it to be a good match—only to jump into a pit of fire.
Minister of Personnel Shen Cong’an had favored his concubine and neglected his wife, swallowing Liu Wanniang’s entire dowry and handing it to his beloved Madam Wang.
Under the torment of Madam Wang and her daughter Shen Chuchu, the Original Owner had wasted away in misery. In the end, she had been hastily married off to the brutal, bloodthirsty Prince Jing and died in a sea of flames.
Shen Qinghuan would settle this account on her behalf.
Every piece of Liu Wanniang’s dowry—she would reclaim it all.
And the debts owed by that scumbag father Shen Cong’an and Madam Wang—she would collect them with interest.
Without hesitation, Shen Qinghuan left the thatched cottage, determined the direction, and walked toward the town.
The early spring wind still carried a chill, blowing her loose bangs across her forehead.
She wore a faded coarse cloth dress, her complexion slightly pale from pregnancy. She looked like an ordinary rural woman, attracting no attention at all.
After walking for about half an hour, the outline of the town finally appeared ahead.
Bluestone streets stretched forward, lined with tightly packed shops. Vendors called out one after another—the place was bustling with life.
Shen Qinghuan went straight to a ready-made clothing shop and looked up at its sign: Jinxiu Pavilion.
The storefront was exquisitely maintained; the clothes inside were unlikely to be of poor quality.
She had just lifted her foot to enter when a shop assistant blocked her.
He looked her up and down. Seeing her plain clothing and rustic air, disdain immediately appeared in his eyes.
“Auntie, our Jinxiu Pavilion sells only silks and satins. One garment costs what you’d spend in half a year. You’d better try another shop.”
Shen Qinghuan frowned slightly. In her previous life as a Divine Doctor, wherever she went people treated her with utmost respect. She had never suffered such contempt.
But her current identity required discretion. Suppressing her displeasure, she said calmly, “What kind of business turns customers away?”
“I can afford it. Just take me to choose.”
Seeing her firm tone, not like someone boasting, and noticing her refined features beneath the plain appearance, the assistant hesitated. Not daring to be too rude, he awkwardly stepped aside.
“Fine, go in. But don’t touch things randomly. If you damage our clothes, you can’t afford to compensate.”
Shen Qinghuan ignored him and walked inside.
The shopkeeper was behind the counter fiddling with an abacus. Hearing movement, he looked up. Seeing a rural woman, he was about to frown—then watched her walk directly to a rack of plain Jinzhou satin dresses and run her hand over the smooth fabric.
“Shopkeeper, I’ll take this moon-white dress and that lake-blue beizi.”
“Also, bring me a set of loose, high-quality men’s clothing in dark blue—tailored to my build.”
Her voice was clear, her tone composed.
The shopkeeper was stunned. After sizing her up and sensing her unusual bearing despite her simple clothes, he immediately set down the abacus and approached with a smile.
“Excellent taste, miss!”
“This moon-white dress is made from Suzhou-embroidered Jinzhou satin—light and breathable, perfect for young ladies.”
“And the lake-blue beizi has elegant colors that complement the complexion beautifully.”
The assistant at the door flushed with embarrassment and stood silently to the side.
Shen Qinghuan nodded, then pointed at the jewelry display. “Bring me a jade hairpin and a pair of pearl earrings as well.”
“Right away!”
The shopkeeper responded cheerfully and sent someone to fetch them.
Nearby, several richly dressed young ladies were choosing clothes. Seeing a rural woman spending so lavishly, they whispered among themselves.
“Who is she?”
“Dressed so poorly yet daring to buy such expensive clothes at Jinxiu Pavilion?”
“She’s probably pretending to be rich.”
“Let’s see how she pays later.”
Shen Qinghuan ignored them completely. When everything was wrapped, she asked calmly, “How much?”
The shopkeeper calculated quickly. “Miss, the dresses, beizi, men’s outfit, and jewelry come to thirty-five taels of silver.”
For ordinary people, thirty-five taels was a huge sum.
The wealthy young ladies held their breath, waiting for her to embarrass herself.
Shen Qinghuan’s expression did not change. She took out a fifty-tael silver ingot and placed it on the counter.
“No need for change. Consider the rest a tip.”
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up. He quickly took the silver, smiling so broadly his eyes became slits.
“Very generous, miss! Rest assured, I’ll have everything packed perfectly for you!”
The young ladies stared in shock, their disdain replaced with astonishment.
Shen Qinghuan took the bundle and left.
At the door, she paused, glanced back at the ashamed assistant, and said lightly, “Looking down on people isn’t good business.”
Then she walked out without another glance.
After leaving the shop, she turned into a quiet alley. Seeing no one around, she activated her space and disappeared inside.
The courtyard within the space was refined and elegant. She went straight to the bedroom and changed into the new clothes.
The moon-white Jinzhou satin dress made her skin look like snow, adding color to her previously pale face. Her long hair was loosely pinned up with the jade hairpin, instantly removing all traces of rusticity and transforming her into a refined young lady of noble bearing.
She then took out the dark-blue men’s outfit, compared it to her figure, and began her disguise.
She tied up her long hair, put on a black headwrap, changed into the men’s clothes, and mixed a special ointment with spirit spring water. After applying it to her face, her delicate features became sharp and heroic, gaining a masculine handsomeness. Paired with the long dark robe, she looked exactly like a graceful young gentleman.
“This should keep anyone from recognizing me.”
Satisfied with her reflection in the bronze mirror, she stored her old coarse clothes away, organized several hundred-year-old lingzhi mushrooms and medicinal herbs from her space, and then stepped out again.
Outside the alley, traffic bustled.
Shen Qinghuan looked toward a carriage station not far away and walked over.
The owner was a plump middle-aged man leaning against the doorway, smoking a pipe. Seeing her approach, he quickly put it down and greeted her with a smile.
“Young master, need to hire a carriage?”
Shen Qinghuan nodded slightly, lowering her voice to a youthful tone.
“I need to go to the Capital City. Do you have a reliable carriage?”
“The Capital City, huh?”
The owner rubbed his hands. “We do, but it’s a long journey—not cheap. And the Capital has strict inspections lately. Outside carriages are searched.”
“I have one that regularly runs the Capital route. The driver, Old Ma, is experienced and knows the roads well. But it costs fifty taels.”
Fifty taels was not expensive.
Without hesitation, Shen Qinghuan took out the silver and handed it over. “Deal. I leave immediately.”
The owner’s eyes shone. “Rest assured, young master!”
“Old Ma! Old Ma! Come out—important guest heading to the Capital!”
A dark-skinned middle-aged man soon emerged from the back, leading a sturdy chestnut horse and a spacious carriage.
“Young master, this is Old Ma. He knows the Capital route like the back of his hand. He’ll deliver you safely.”
Old Ma cupped his hands. “Please board.”
Shen Qinghuan nodded and stepped inside.
The carriage was lined with thick cushions and even had a small table—quite comfortable.
She lifted the curtain and looked out, her gaze deep.
Capital City—she had arrived.
Minister’s Residence, Shen Cong’an, Madam Wang, Shen Chuchu… were they ready to face her revenge?
The carriage began to move, rolling toward the Capital, wheels rumbling and dust rising behind it.
Leaning back against the cushions, Shen Qinghuan gently stroked her abdomen. A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
This journey to the Capital was destined to be anything but peaceful.